Nitro council members question road sale

NITRO, W.Va. -- A request to sell a city-owned road caused a minor debate at the Nitro City Council meeting Tuesday night.

FedEx recently opened a distribution center along Don Karnes Boulevard in the Nitro Marketplace.

The Nitro Development Company, which owns the road, requested the city's approval to sell the road to the state Division of Highways. The private road is part of the city street system.

Several council members worried that giving up the city's rights to the road may hurt them in the future.

"I have lots of concerns for that road," Councilwoman Brenda Tyler said. "They own the road, why are they asking us to get involved?"

Other council members shared her concerns and feared the state may close the road to make it a private access drive for FedEx.

"The way I understand it, there's an investment group that purchased the building that leases it to FedEx," Mayor Dave Casebolt said. "They want that road to be under state care because of the heavy trucks that will be going across it and maintenance that would be required on it.

"[They think] the state would take care of it quicker than the city would."

In other business, council approved pool rates for next year. The cost for a yearly family membership will decrease from $200 to $150, while individual membership will drop from $100 to $85. Daily rates will stay the same.

Council also approved a bid for $1,500 from Kent Woodruff to appraise the property along the 700 block of Dupont Avenue.

If the property appraises for a certain amount, the owner will donate it to the city. The city plans to clean up the backwater issue on the land and turn it into a neighborhood park.

Council went into executive session for about an hour to discuss an ongoing litigation issue, according to city attorney Richie Robb.

The meeting reconvened and council unanimously approved a motion to accept Robb's recommendation. Robb declined to comment.